Expect more next-level, solutions-based reporting from the Advertiser

You said you wanted more in-depth news. You want us to search for solutions and address questions and dig for hard-to-find answers. You want us to push the public conversation on our community’s daily struggles and triumphs.

And, thanks to you — concerned, engaged and thoughtful news consumers — we are changing the way we cover the issues and actions that impact your lives.

We are devoting most of our efforts on more in-depth work, particularly solutions-based journalism, and we have started purposefully releasing daily stories that we know you won’t see anywhere else in Alabama.

Solutions journalism goes beyond exposing problems. It provides readers with potential ways to respond to challenges by exploring what other communities have done. It’s not advocacy; instead it measures the effectiveness of that response. We can all learn from looking inside our community and outside our community for answers.

We are a part of the community, not dismissive of it. We don’t have the answer to all of our shortcomings as a society, but as a newsroom we see our job as exploring our issues and exposing the noteworthy reaction to them. We want to improve the conversation we are having about decisions being made, give insight, collaborate and hold community leaders accountable. We want to ensure they provide legitimate responses to the issues the community cares about.

This commitment includes the expansion of our newsroom reporting staff, adding a position that will focus on solutions journalism and enterprise across several news beats, in particular our public-school system, education policy and the state intervention into Montgomery’s schools.

The Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization that trains journalists on the application of solutions-based reporting, has provided support and training on the model while connecting our energetic, talented staff with resources to be successful.

We are excited about what we are doing and how we are doing it. Every person who cares about Montgomery should feel the same. We want our journalism to reflect that commitment without being Pollyannish.

We want to strengthen trust with the community by being more responsive and engaged with you. That means fewer editorials written by us that leave the impression that we are trying to tell you how to think and more in-depth conversations on social media with the reporters and editors responding to readers.

Don’t be surprised when you see me talking and sharing news in Facebook groups. Not only do we want you to know what we are up to, but we learn about what you are feeling and thinking by a simple social media post from me, engaging in online exchanges about the news.

Also, we plan to have community meet-ups. They will be reporter-led conversations with anyone who can show up to the free meeting (and sometimes we might have free homemade cookies or cupcakes, too). We want to talk about the news and what we are covering with the people affected. Check back on our website, Facebook or Twitter for more information about the first meet-up scheduled.

Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Texas are studying our launch into the new solutions reporting initiative. Hopefully, they will find that you think we are doing better, listening more and responding to your needs. When we tested the model in the fall, it proved you read the solutions enterprise stories more and for longer periods of time.

But more clicks, bigger audiences and longer reading times aren’t what we are seeking. Ultimately, it’s an improved relationship with you, one where you look to us to find news that matters daily.